Car suspension



May 13, 1924. 1,493,486

J. R. FLEMING CAR S I JSPENS ION Filed Mqrch 50. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 1'3, 1924.

J. R. FLEMING CAR SUSPENSION Filed March 3o. 1922 2 'snet's-snet 2 Sme/wim l'. 0J y l 2 Hwm IH/f ,4| 2 h o .3 3 2 2 2 2 35% bis JAMES B. FLEMING, 0F SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.l

CAB SUSPENSION.

Application file d March 30, 1922. Serial No. 548,015.

lwherein t-he body of the car is carried by `a journal Abox which lits the axle.

A particular object of the invention is to provide in conjunction with the journal box ja relatively floating bearing plate to which is attached the sill or bolster common in the mine type of car or truck.

A further object is the provision of means for preventing undue compression stresses to occur in the springs or pounding or hammering thereof due to the roughness of track 'p which is characteristic of mines.

A still further object is to provide a method of thoroughly lubricating the interior of the journal box.

' Drawings.

Figure l is a front elevation of my improved mounting, showing the bearing plate and spring :housing members which move relatively to the journal box, v

Figure 2 is a top plan view, partially in section of the mounting as seen in Figure 1, the sill of the car being omitted and a portion of the bearing plate 'being removed .to expose one of the spring elements.

Fi re 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1 showing the interior construction of the journal box.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the. line 4-4 of Figure 2, and shows the journal box and its position relatively to the spring suspension members.

Description The journal box 'comprises a roller bearing element 13 and its liner 14, the box being formed at its top, centrally of said bearings, to provide a lubricating reservoir 15, said reservoir being formed in an extended round topped knob or boss- 16', and supplied with lubricant through a borev 17 which extends through one of a pair of oppositely disposed guide forming extensions 18 cast in the exterior of said journal box.

The end of the journal box is closed with a cover 19 in which are the axle engaging' packing glands 20, a pair of which, in the forward part of the box, -bear on the axle 10 and wheel hub 11 to prevent the escape of lubricant from the bearings 13.

The guides 18 are disposed centrally of said journal box and at the bottom of the latter and centrally of the guides there is cast integral with the box, the spring suporting arms 21 which are cupped as at 22, the bottoms of the cu s being rounded as at 23 to provide a sel -oentering means for the washers 24 disposed therein.

A bearing plate 25 overlies the journal Y box 12 and is bolted or riveted as at 26 to the side sill or bolster 31 of the carvwhich may be of wood o r metal. This bearing plate 25 is formed to provide dependent s ring housings 27 which fit slidably into t e guides 18 and have cast therein spring centering cups 28 over which the springs 29 l fit. The springs rest upon the washers 24 of the journal box arms and .carry the bearing late 25 in spaced relation with the journal ox 12.

The side walls of the housings 27 extend slightly below the arms 21 and have passed therethrough bolts 30 which underlie said arms and prevent separa-tion of the journal box and bearing plate.

It will be noted that there is a space between the under side of the bearing plate 25 and the top of the knob or boss 16. This space is a trifle less than the accumulated spaces between the springs, so that when the car is overloaded and the'springs close, they will be prevented from entirely closing because the plate 25 will be then resting upon the boss 16 and the weight will be transmitted directly to the journal box 12. This arrangement prevents strain on the springs 29, as it is well known that undue compression and hammering thereof will cause loss of temper and eventuall breakage.

The view shown in igure 4 best illuslllll l l trates the relative positions of the parts and it is assumed that the positions are taken as at normal or average load. There is thereby provided a floating journal box and the springs will take up any unevenness in the track, thereb eliminatlng undue wear on the truck an journal box parts. rI he journal box will be rendered self-aligning when the bearing plate rests upon the roundtopped boss.

Ulams.4

1. In a car mounting of the character de'- seribed, an axle; a journal box therefor; extensions on said journal box; a bearmg plate on said ear; springs adapted to .maintain said plate and said journal box'ln spaced relation; and means whereby said sprlngs will be rendered self-centering.

2. In a car mounting of the character described, an axle, a journal box for said axle, a bearing plate on said car, spaced housings depending from said plate, guides formed with said journal box-'and arranged in sliding engagement with and between said housings, springs disposed within said housings and adapted to maintain said journal box in spaced relation to said plate, and means cooperative with said springs whereby the same are rendered self centering.

3. In a car mounting of the character described, an axle, a journal box for said axle, springs adapted to maintain said journal box in spaced relation to the body of a car, and means cooperative with said springs whereby the same are rendered self-centering.

4. In a car mounting of the character described, an axle, a journal box for said axle, a bearing plate on said car, spaced housings depending from said plate, guides formed with said journal box and arranged in sliding engagement with and between said housings, springs disposed within said housings and adapted to maintain said journal box in spaced relation to said plate, and means -carried by said journal box and cooperative with the lower ends of said springs whereby the springs are rendered self-centering.

5. In a car mounting of the character described, an axle, a bearing plate on said car,

Lasalle@ spaced housings Adepending' from said plate, a journal box slidably movable vertically between said housings, extensions formed on dered self aligning, and means cooperative .\with the extensions of said journal box whereby said springs are rendered selfcentering. p

6. In a car mounting of the character described, an axle, a bearing plate on said car, spaced housings depending from said plate, a journal box siidably movable vertically between said housings, extensions formed at the opposite-ends of said journal box and under-lying the lower'ends ofsaid housings, springs disposed within said housings and interposed between the opposite ends of said plate Vand said extensions adapted to maintain said journal box normally spaced apart from the plate, means formed with said journal box and cooperative with said plate whereby the journal box is rendered self-aligning, and means cooperative with the extensions of said journal box and the lower ends .of said springs whereby the latter are rendered self-centerlng.

v 7. In a car mounting of the character described, a bearing plate on said car,a journal -box supported beneath said .bearing plate and arranged to have relative movement with respect thereto, springs interposed between said bearing plate and said journal box for normally retaining the latter in spaced relation with respect to the former,seats having convexed bottom walls carried by said journalpbox for the reception therein ot the lower ends of said springs, and members interposed between the lower ends of said springs and the con- AMES Rl FLEMING. 

